New Balance Fresh Foam Beacon Running Shoe Review

Written on 25 September 2018.

Nick Harris-Fry

Friday, September 14, 2018 - 16:48

Compared to the grandiose fanfare that heralds the release of most new running shoes, the New Balance Beacon has slipped under the radar somewhat. However, it’s certainly an intriguing prospect once it comes to your attention.

That’s partly thanks to the sizeable chunk of Fresh Foam cushioning on the bottom – which makes it almost look like a Hoka One One shoe – and the almost complete lack of rubber on the outsole. Then there’s the fact that the Beacon weighs just 213g (men’s) despite all that cushioning. That’s lighter than some all-out racers like the Adidas Adizero Adios. Finally there’s the price – £90 at a time when more and more brands are pricing their pairs beyond £150 rather than under £100.

It all adds up to a unique, attractive package. The Beacon is a true all-rounder running shoe that doesn’t cost the Earth, and it even looks good enough to wear when not running.

Over my first weekend of running in the Beacon I tackled an out-and-back 16km, running the first half run easy and the second half at just slower than my half marathon pace, and a 15-mile run where I stepped up the...

About this site

19 December 2018

My household loves a hottie. A snuggly hot water bottle, tucked between cold bedsheets in our draughty Victorian house is an old-school treat and much loved by my digital-native sons. We’d never really thought that there was anything lacking in… Read More

Since we’re all buying less and thinking harder about better using what we already have, it seemed fortuitous that The Restory popped up on my radar at a recent press day.
Aimed at people who buy quality handbags and shoes… Read More

﻿
Remember we told you about Goodordering, an East London company run by our mate Jacqui Ma who has been making multi-functional cycling bags and celebrating urban cycling lifestyles, for the past five years. As part of that journey, they… Read More

It’s impossible to ignore now, the festive season is here, like it or not. I seem to have an unusually high number of event invitations already this year, something that never normally happens, is everyone thinking of partying their way… Read More

Isn’t it weird how when a celebrity celebrity has a baby/teenagers/menopause, it becomes become a ‘thing’. The latest ‘issue’ to be re-branded is the menopause, with Meg Mathews (Noel Gallagher’s ex wife) and Gwyneth Patrow taking it upon themselves to… Read More

I was at a press day last week – Aisle8 if you’re interested – where everyone looked amazing. This sometimes happens at press days where everyone has dressed up to the nines, although often the press teams all look like… Read More